Page 60 of Avenging Devil: Part 1

There, lying in the middle of my bed, is Cyn. My fucking sister.

“What the fuck?”

The light had made her startle, my roar made her leap up and almost out of the bed. “Niran!” she shouts, delightedly. “You’re home.”

Ignoring her welcome, I go for the pertinent information. “What the fuck are you doing in my bed?”

I’ll be fucked if her bottom lip doesn’t tremble, and she wipes at her eyes as if to dab at what to me are invisible tears. “I’ve missed you, Niran. You’re never here. I’ve been feeling so lonely.”

Lonely in a club full of bikers?It suddenly occurs to me that while I think she’s got more than adequate company, maybe that’s my view and not hers. What has she in common with the men I ride with?

Though I’ve given time to her in the evenings before I’d gone to see Saffie, I’ve often left at ten, wanting to make sure her apartment is tidy, and that there was food ready for when she came in.

I’ve been spending the nights with Saffie, even though not, as others might think, in her bed, while the sister who apparently needs me has been crying in mine. All of a sudden, I feel like an asshole.

Cyn apparently needs me, and while I doubt I have much to give her, maybe now Saffie has sent me away, I should focus my attention on her instead.

“Are you going to ask me to leave?”

Taking it she means from my bed, and not from San Diego, I shake my head. “Nah, you can stay here tonight if you want to.”

I sit on the opposite side of the bed to which she’s occupying, and shrug out of my jeans, knowing my boxers will preserve my dignity, and start to unstrap my leg. Behind me, the bed dips as Cyn moves over, puts her hand on my shoulder, and leans in to watch.

“Ew. I’ve never seen your stump before. Does it hurt? It looks disgusting.”

Yes, little sister, I’m only too well aware that the scars from the surgery aren’t pretty, nor is the redness caused by a long day wearing my prothesis. Grimacing, I reach for my cane, and stand. “It’s not meant to be pretty.” Turning my back, I hop away to the bathroom where I do what’s necessary, before lighting a bedside lamp, turning off the main one, and coming back to bed.

“Shift over,” I tell her. “Give me some space.”

I’m tired as fuck, upset about Saffie and now worried about Cyn and how she’s really doing. Maybe her bravado is all an act, and underneath she’s just a frightened child.

One month, Saffie had asked for. Four weeks during which I should give her space. Perhaps instead of moping around, I should use the time positively and focus on Cyn. If I can get her head on straight, there’s a chance she could return to her parents and get out of my space.

Sharing my bed with my sister? Hell, I could never have predicted that. While my head knows the warm feminine body beside me is that of my sibling, I’m worried as fuck that in my sleep, my hands might wander. Anchoring them under my head, I force myself to stay still. Each time I drop off, I wake, disturbed by the presence of another person, when normally I sleep by myself, or with a woman I am allowed to snuggle with.

When daylight finally breaks the tortuous night, Cyn isn’t impressed.

“You toss and turn a lot. And you snore.”

Do I? I’ve never heard myself. Still, my restless night is easily explained by everything I’ve got on my mind. Despite my promise to give Saffie time, she’s the first thing I think of as I wake this morning.Is she okay? Is she eating? Did she sleep?I just fucking hope those bastards living in the other apartments or hanging around waiting to score hadn’t bothered her.

I don’t apologise for Cyn’s disturbed sleep. “You’ve got your own room, Cyn.”

Ignoring my response, she grins at me. “It’s a lovely day. Will you take me out on your bike, Niran? Please?” She flutters her eyelids as she begs.

Is it wrong I really don’t want her there? The only arms I want around me are those which right now, wouldn’t give me the time of day. “I’ve got to work, Cyn. And so have you,” I remind her. When she grimaces, I raise an eyebrow. “I thought you like working for Salem?”

“Salem’s fine,” she admits grumpily, then raises wide eyes to mine. “But Kid’s there today, and he gives me the creeps.”

Bristling, I question her further, my voice deep and growling. “He upset you?”

She shrugs. “He makes me feel uneasy.”

I’ll have words with the fucking prospect later. As my sister, Cyn’s higher in the pecking order than a darn prospect who can be sent away, but I need to know more about what I’m dealing with. “In what way, Cyn?”

She gives another rise and lower of her shoulders. “He just does.”

Has he made a move on her? Fucking prospect should know she’s out of bounds. For now and forever. Even if he was patched in, she’s another member’s sister.

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